After Midnight

The school was quiet again. Too quiet.

Agla walked alone down the hallway, his shoes tapping softly against the tiled floor. The fight with the Harrowraith had ended hours ago, but his heart was still beating fast.

The red mark on his chest pulsed gently under his shirt. Warm. Alive.

He wasn't alone for long.

"Couldn't sleep?" a voice asked behind him.

He turned.

Nyx stood there, arms crossed, wearing a dark night robe that looked more like battle gear. Her white hair fell around her shoulders.

"No," Agla replied. "Can't stop thinking about it."

She walked up beside him. "That's normal. The mark changes everything."

"Am I going to turn into a monster?"

"No," she said simply. "But monsters will chase you. You're a beacon now."

Great, Agla thought. Just what I needed — more reasons to be weird.

They walked together in silence for a moment.

"Do you always wear that to bed?" he asked, glancing at her armor-like robe.

Nyx looked at him sideways. "Do you always walk around with your hair like that?"

He touched his messy hair. "It's my style."

She rolled her eyes but smiled a little.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from down the hallway.

They both turned.

"Library," Nyx said.

They ran.

Inside, the library was a mess. Books scattered, chairs flipped. A single window was broken, letting the wind in.

And sitting on the librarian's desk, legs swinging, was Vella.

She wore a short tank top, loose pajama shorts, and had a book in one hand.

"Oh," she said, not surprised. "You two coming for a midnight snack too?"

"This isn't the kitchen," Nyx growled.

"Could've fooled me," Vella said, tossing a book over her shoulder. "Smells like burnt coffee and dead trees."

"What are you doing here?" Agla asked.

"I couldn't sleep either," she said, hopping down from the table. "Saw something outside. Thought I'd check it out."

"And?" Nyx asked.

"Just a shadow." Vella stepped closer to Agla, smirking. "Or maybe it was the spirit of your awkwardness walking around in ghost form."

"You're hilarious," Agla said dryly.

Vella leaned in, voice lower. "I know. That's why you keep thinking about me."

Nyx groaned. "I'm leaving."

But before she could take a step, the library door slammed shut on its own.

The lights flickered.

A dark mist crawled in through the broken window, swirling slowly.

"Get behind me," Nyx ordered, stepping forward, scythe appearing in her hand.

But Agla didn't move.

The mist began to take shape — something tall, with horns, wings, and no face.

"Another one?" Vella muttered.

"No," Nyx said. "This one's different. It's not from the abyss. It's older."

The creature reached toward Agla.

He raised his hand, and the mark glowed bright red.

The light pushed the creature back, but it didn't vanish.

Instead, it laughed — a deep, hollow sound.

Then it spoke in a voice like metal scraping glass.

"Soon… he will awaken."

The mist exploded outward and vanished into smoke.

Silence.

Agla stood frozen.

"What did that mean?" he asked.

Nyx didn't answer.

Vella stepped beside him, placing a hand on his arm. "Looks like you've got fans in other dimensions too, pretty boy."

He gave her a look. "That supposed to be comforting?"

"Nope." She winked. "Just distracting."

---

Later that night, Agla sat on the roof of the school. The stars were out. The moon looked big and full.

He held a cup of instant noodles in one hand, steam rising into the cool air.

Someone sat beside him.

It was Mira, in a long white sleeping robe, holding her own cup of noodles.

"You too?" he asked.

"I couldn't sleep either," she said softly.

They ate in silence for a while.

Mira glanced at him. "You're not scared?"

"I am," he said honestly. "But I'm also tired of running. For once, I want to fight."

Mira smiled. "Good answer."

He looked at her. Her long hair shimmered in the moonlight.

"You're really beautiful, you know," he said without thinking.

She blushed lightly but didn't look away. "And you're... braver than you look."

He chuckled. "Thanks. I think."

Their hands brushed for a second.

She didn't move hers away.

---

Down below, in the shadows, Juno watched them from the trees.

She said nothing, her green eyes calm, unreadable.

Then she vanished into the leaves like a ghost.

---

The next morning, Agla was late to class. Again.

He rushed down the hall, half-eating a piece of toast.

He stopped when he reached his locker.

There was a note inside.

In neat handwriting, it read:

**"Midnight. Training room. Come alone. - R"**

He knew who that was.

Rei.

That night, after curfew, Agla snuck through the hallways, heart pounding.

He opened the door to the training room.

Rei stood at the center, wearing a tight black combat suit, glowing runes on her gloves.

"Close the door," she said.

He did.

"What's this about?" he asked.

She looked at him seriously. "You have power, but no control. I'm going to teach you."

"Why me?"

"Because if you mess up again, someone might die. Including you."

She stepped forward, placed a hand on his chest.

The mark glowed.

"Focus," she whispered.

Agla nodded.

Suddenly, the room changed. She created a dreamscape — illusions around them. A fake world.

Monsters appeared.

Dozens of them.

Rei pointed. "Show me what you've learned."

Agla charged.